Identity in Science Fiction

Brain Transplants and Other Misadventures

Dr Tom Cochrane (Flinders University, Australia)

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English

Bloomsbury Academic
27 November 2025

Science fiction; Philosophy: metaphysics & ontology; Philosophy: aesthetics

Featuring classic authors and brand new work, we are confronted with a fundamental metaphysical challenge in every story. Are we souls, brains, animals, or patterns of information? Are the Buddhists right to say that the self is an illusion? Do we survive under conditions such as total amnesia, or the replacement of our brains by machine parts? Each story is accompanied by an introductory overview and examination of the philosophical arguments behind it.

Alongside deeper appreciation of stories by authors such as Roald Dahl, John Varley, J. R. Dawson and Ursula Le Guin, we are seamlessly introduced to the philosophy of personal identity through memorable fiction:

‘The Barbie Murders’ depicts a society in which each member conforms to a strict template for their physical and mental characteristics.

‘Marley and Marley’ follows a middle-aged woman who takes part in a government program to travel back in time to take care of her orphaned younger self.

‘Edward the Conqueror’ investigates the existence of the soul, when a mysterious cat appears to be reincarnation of a long-dead composer.

Thought-provoking and highly entertaining, this one-of-a-kind anthology challenges traditional beliefs around how we see ourselves and allows us to understand what it means to be human.

Edited by: Dr Tom Cochrane (Flinders University Australia)
Imprint: Bloomsbury Academic
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 232mm, Width: 156mm, Spine: 28mm
Weight: 480g
ISBN: 9781350499805
ISBN 10: 1350499803
Pages: 320
Publication Date: 27 November 2025
Audience: College/higher education , Primary
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Introduction: What Am I? by Tom Cochrane 1. ‘The Barbie Murders’ by John Varley (2004) 2. ‘Marley and Marley’ by J. R. Dawson (2020) 3. ‘Edward the Conqueror’ by Roald Dahl (2013) 4. ‘Life Sentence’ by Matthew Baker (2019) 5. ‘The Affirmation’ by Christopher Priest (2011) 6. ‘Think like a Dinosaur’ by James Patrick Kelly (1995) 7. ‘The Extra’ by Greg Egan (2013) 8. ‘Sirius’ by Olaf Stapledon (1944) 9. ‘Cuckoo, Cuckoo’ by Sean Williams (2014) 10. ‘Constitution’ by Tom Cochrane (2023) 11. ‘Social Dreaming of the Frin’ by Ursula Le Guin (2020) 12. ‘Social Identity’ by Claire North (2024) Appendix Further Reading Teaching Resources Index

Tom Cochrane is Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at Flinders University, Australia. He is author of The Emotional Power of Music (2013), The Emotional Mind (2018) and The Aesthetic Value of the World (2021).